Redmond Airport to Bend: The Best Ways to Get There
Every real way from Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) to Bend, with posted prices, phone numbers, where to find your ride at the terminal, and what to do if you land late, in snow, with skis or with ten friends.
By All Things Bend · Prices and providers checked October 22, 2026
Cheapest: the CET bus (weekdays), or a shared-cost private shuttle
Solo with a carry-on on a weekday? CET Route A ($2) plus Route 24 ($2) gets you from the terminal to Hawthorne Station in downtown Bend, about 1–2 hours with the transfer. Two or more people? A private shuttle is priced per ride, so Enviro Shuttle (from $52), Bend Ride Company ($55–$65) or Destination Transportation (~$55 per vehicle) split nicely.
Fastest: a pre-booked ride waiting at the curb, or a rental counter in baggage claim
A booked shuttle tracks your flight and waits in the taxi lane, so you walk out and go. Rental counters are inside baggage claim with cars in the lot just north of the terminal. Uber and Lyft are quick when drivers are around, but you can’t count on that after dark or on holiday weekends.
The last CET airport bus leaves at 7:06 p.m. on weekdays, and rideshare thins out at night. RDM-Shuttle runs 24/7/365 (advance booking only), 541 Airport Shuttle answers calls and texts 24/7, and Ride with Julie runs 24 hours. Give them your flight number.
Shuttle Oregon (up to 14 per vehicle, more vans as needed), Bend Ride Company and Cascade Private Car Service (14-passenger vans) move whole groups in one go. 4–6 people: Enviro Shuttle’s Sienna ($73–$84 to Bend) or 541 Airport Shuttle (up to 6).
Skis, bikes or golf bags: book a van with winter tires
Shuttle Oregon’s vans are all on winter-rated tires and fit ski bags; Enviro Shuttle runs studded tires in winter. On Uber, request UberXL if you have three or more checked bags. Renting? Ask what tires are on the car before you leave the lot.
RDM puts Sunriver at about 50 minutes. Posted Sunriver fares run about $80–$120. No shuttle runs straight from the airport to Mt. Bachelor: get to Bend, then take CET’s winter Mt. Bachelor bus or drive the Cascade Lakes Highway.
All of these are on RDM’s authorized ground-transportation list. Every one is a private ride (your party only) unless it says otherwise. We checked each company’s own site on October 22, 2026. Before you pay, ask if airport fees and gratuity are included and what happens if your flight is late.
Private shuttle · SUVs to 14-passenger van
Bend Ride Company
Posted prices
Tracks flights
Big groups
RDM → Bend
$55–$65 (posted “Redmond Airport Rates,” prices may vary)
RDM → Sunriver
$109–$120
Vehicles
SUVs, larger passenger vehicles and a 14-passenger shuttle van
Hours
Hours not posted; it asks you to book ahead, especially for busy seasons and early-morning flights
How to book
Book online (instant if a vehicle is free), or call or text
Gear & winter
Ask for a larger vehicle for skis, golf bags or bikes
Cancel before your flight departs or the night before pickup to avoid fees.
From $60 each way (Redmond from $40); goes up by location, day and time
Vehicles
Vehicles seat up to 14; multiple vans for bigger groups. Executive Mercedes Sprinter available.
Hours
Advertises late-night and early-morning airport runs
How to book
Request form or ride@shuttleoregon.com. Payment confirms the ride.
Gear & winter
All vehicles on winter-rated tires; tall-roof vans fit ski and golf bags. Also runs Mt. Bachelor day shuttles.
Waits in the taxi lane across from the main door. Refund if you cancel 24+ hours ahead, minus a $20 fee; rides booked with under 48 hours’ notice are non-refundable.
These are on RDM’s authorized list but don’t post prices or have a website we could check, so call and ask for the fare to your exact Bend address before you get in.
Taxis of BendBend; Redmond line 541-390-0962📞 541-948-0962
Some Bend-area resorts run their own airport rides for guests. They are not free walk-up shuttles, so set them up when you book your room.
Tetherow (west Bend): fee-based rides to and from Redmond Airport. Shuttles run 7 a.m.–10 p.m. daily, based on availability. Call the front desk at 541-213-2405. Details
Juniper Preserve (east of Bend): private transfers in a Mercedes Sprinter (up to 11) or Ford Expedition Max (up to 6). Needs 48 hours’ notice. Details
Riverhouse on the Deschutes (north Bend): private transportation on request. Call 541-389-3111.
Sunriver Resort, Eagle Crest and Redmond’s Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn and Sleep Inn are also on RDM’s shuttle list. Ask the front desk about cost and hours.
Uber and Lyft at RDM
Both apps are authorized at RDM. Walk out of baggage claim and head to the rideshare curb north of the terminal. Request once you have your bags so the driver isn’t circling.
Price: the app shows it before you book. It goes up when several flights land at once, in storms and on event weekends.
Reserve ahead: Uber lets you reserve a ride for when you land, lock in the price, and track your flight for delays.
Luggage: Uber suggests UberXL for groups with three or more checked bags. Skis rarely fit a standard car.
Late night: Bend has far fewer drivers after dark than a big city. If you land after about 10 p.m., have a shuttle number saved as a backup.
Six companies have counters inside baggage claim. You pick up and return cars in the lot north of the terminal on Jesse Butler Circle, a short walk, with no off-site shuttle bus. Rates change by the day, so book on the company’s own site.
Cascades East Transit (CET) is the cheap way in, but only on weekdays and only with light bags. It takes two buses:
Route A: Airport → Redmond Transit CenterWeekdays. Leaves the Redmond Airport stop at 6:21, 7:51, 9:21 and 11:21 a.m., then 12:51, 2:36, 4:06, 5:36 and 7:06 p.m. About 12 minutes to the transit center (behind Fred Meyer, off Canal Blvd).
Route 24: Redmond → BendWeekday buses from about 5:30 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. reach Hawthorne Station in downtown Bend in 20–30 minutes. A few Saturday trips, but Route A doesn’t run on weekends.
Cost: $2 per ride, or $6 for a day pass in the CET Go app. Cash on board is $2, exact change. Kids 5 and under ride free with an adult.
Good connections: the 9:21 a.m. airport bus makes the 10:00 a.m. Route 24 (in Bend at 10:30). The 5:36 and 7:06 p.m. airport buses hit the 5:50 and 7:20 p.m. Route 24 with only a couple of minutes to spare, so don’t count on them if the bus is late. The 12:51 p.m. bus means a wait of over an hour in Redmond.
About the $15 fare: CET’s fare table still lists a $15 “Bend–Redmond Airport” fare, and older articles describe a direct airport bus. We could not find a current direct route on CET’s site on October 22, 2026. Older PDFs and blog posts may show fare-free service or old fares, so treat CET’s live pages as the source of truth, or call 541-385-8680 (weekdays 7 a.m.–5 p.m.).
Cell Phone Waiting AreaOn SE Salmon Drive next to the airport; follow the signs on SE Airport Way. Wait here until your traveler texts “at the curb.”No fee listed
Terminal curbActive loading and unloading only. You can’t wait or leave a car unattended.Up to a $150 citation
Main lot (across from the terminal)First 30 minutes free, then $2 per hour. Cash or card. 3-hour spaces by the taxi lane.$24 daily max
Credit Card Lot (south entrance)$2 per hour from the start; chip card needed to exit.$24 daily max
Before you flyBook your shuttle or car with your flight number, so they can track delays. Save the driver’s number.
Land and textTurn your phone on at the gate and text your driver or pickup person. RDM is one small terminal, so baggage claim is a short walk.
Baggage claimGrab bags. Rental counters are right here.
Walk out the main doorShuttles, taxis and limos: across the street in the taxi lane, next to the main parking lot. Uber and Lyft: the rideshare curb north of the terminal. Rental cars: the lot north of the terminal. CET bus: the Redmond Airport stop.
Head southFollow signs to US-97 South. Bend’s first exits come up in about 15 miles.
Book before you board. RDM-Shuttle (24/7/365, advance booking only), 541 Airport Shuttle (call or text 24/7) and Ride with Julie (24 hours) are your best bets. Shuttle Oregon and Bend Ride Company also track flights for late arrivals.
Don’t plan on the bus. The last Route A bus leaves the airport at 7:06 p.m. on weekdays.
Treat Uber and Lyft as a maybe. Try the app, but keep a shuttle or taxi number ready.
Renting? If your flight is badly delayed, call the RDM counter number in the rental list.
Driving after dark in winter? Black ice is common on clear, cold nights. Check TripCheck before you leave the lot.
Winter driving on US-97
The 30-minute run from RDM to Bend is mostly divided highway on the high desert floor. It isn’t a mountain pass, but snow, freezing fog and black ice do happen from November through March, especially early in the morning and after dark.
Check TripCheck first. ODOT’s TripCheck.com has road cameras and conditions 24/7, or dial 511.
Know the tire rules. Studded tires are legal in Oregon November 1–March 31. When signs say chains are required, traction-tire-rated tires can stand in for chains on passenger vehicles (10,000 lb or less, not towing). Oregon chain law
Ask your rental counter what tires are on the car. AWD helps you go, not stop.
Going higher? Mt. Bachelor and the Santiam and Willamette passes need real winter tires or chains in the car.
Don’t want to drive in it? Shuttle Oregon (winter-rated tires, mostly AWD) and Enviro Shuttle (studded tires in winter) do it every day.
Getting to Sunriver or Mt. Bachelor
Sunriver
RDM lists the drive at about 50 minutes, straight down US-97 past Bend.
Destination Transportation: ~$80 per vehicle (+ gratuity and fees)
Most Sunriver visitors want a car once they arrive. If you rent at RDM, you skip both the shuttle and the rides around the resort.
Mt. Bachelor
Nothing goes straight from the airport to the mountain. Get to Bend first, then:
CET Mt. Bachelor bus (winter): from Hawthorne Station or the Mt. Bachelor Park & Ride by the Pavilion on Columbia Street to West Village or Sunrise Lodge, 7 days a week in season. Gear goes on the back of the bus. Schedule & fares
Private van: Shuttle Oregon runs round trips or full-day standby to Mt. Bachelor.
Drive: about 22 miles past Bend on the Cascade Lakes Highway (OR-372). Carry chains or traction tires.
Flying home
When should you leave Bend?
RDM is small, but don’t cut it close. Pick your flight time and we’ll work backward.
Returning a rental? Add 10–15 minutes; returns are in the lot north of the terminal.
Booking a shuttle? Give them your flight number and use their pickup time. Rides to RDM sometimes cost less: Enviro Shuttle’s to-airport RAV4 rates start at $44.
Leaving your own car? Main lot $2/hour after 30 free minutes, $24 a day max. Over 30 days needs approval.
Big groups, weddings and team trips
Once you’re past four people with luggage, two or three rideshares cost more than one van, and someone always ends up waiting at the curb.
4–6 peopleEnviro Shuttle Sienna ($73–$84 to Bend), 541 Airport Shuttle (up to 6), Black Diamond CLS Escalade ESV (7)
7–14 peopleShuttle Oregon (up to 14 per vehicle), Bend Ride Company and Cascade Private Car Service (14-passenger vans), Juniper Preserve’s Sprinter (11) for its guests
15+ peopleShuttle Oregon sends several vans and takes a spreadsheet of arrivals for company retreats. Exquisite Limo Bend has a 20-seat SUV limo and a 27-seat party bus.
Send everyone’s flight numbers in one list, and ask whether the price is per vehicle or per person (all the posted prices above are per ride).
Staggered arrivals? Ask for a quote on several runs versus one wait. Shuttle Oregon handles multiple transfers through the day.
Celebrating? Shuttle Oregon is licensed to allow drinks on board; ask ahead.
What we’d book
Common Bend trips
Three-night ski tripRental car (ask about tires)
Freedom for the mountain, meals and weather days, unless your lodging bundles ski transport.
Downtown weekend, no day tripsShuttle or rideshare
Skip paying to park a rental you barely use.
Family staying in SunriverRental car or private shuttle
Sunriver is about 50 minutes from RDM, and you’ll want wheels once there.
Business trip to a Bend hotelRideshare or private car
Simple airport-to-hotel transfer, no rental counter.
Solo budget traveler, weekdayCET Route A + Route 24
$4 total. Check the timetable for your landing time.
Winter arrival after darkPre-booked shuttle
Someone else drives the ice, and the ride is waiting.
Five things to check
Your landing timeA late-night arrival is a different problem than a 2 p.m. one.
Your actual Bend addressDowntown, Tetherow, northeast Bend and Sunriver price differently. Several shuttles price by ZIP code.
Your luggageSki and bike gear can rule out a standard car.
The rest of your itineraryA cheap airport ride is no bargain if you pay for rides to trailheads all week.
Winter weatherCheck TripCheck before you land, not after you pick up the keys.
The drive from RDM to Bend
This is not a mountain-pass airport transfer. From the terminal you follow signs to US-97 South and stay on it to Bend: about 15 miles to the north Bend exits (Empire Avenue for the Riverhouse area) and 30 minutes to most of town in good weather.
Answer this before you compare airport-ride prices.
You can skip the rental if:
you are staying downtown or near the Old Mill
restaurants, breweries and river walks are the main agenda
friends or family are driving for the outdoor days
you are fine using rideshare or CET for the occasional longer trip
Rent the car if:
Mt. Bachelor is part of the trip and the bus schedule doesn’t fit
you are hiking outside Bend
you are visiting Sisters, Smith Rock, Sunriver or the Cascade Lakes
you are staying in a vacation home outside the walkable core
you have kids and a lot of gear
Bend is easy to enjoy without driving every hour, but Central Oregon as a whole is much easier with a vehicle.
For transportation companies
We keep this guide editorially independent and recheck providers and prices on their own sites. If you run an airport shuttle, taxi, private car or visitor transportation business in Central Oregon, send us a correction or update. For clearly labeled sponsorship opportunities, see our media kit. Sponsored placements never buy editorial rankings.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How far is Redmond Airport from Bend?
RDM sits on the southeast edge of Redmond, about 16–17 miles north of Bend. The airport lists the drive to Bend as about 30 minutes on US-97. Door-to-door time depends on your Bend address, traffic and weather.
How much is a shuttle from Redmond Airport to Bend?
Posted private-shuttle prices to Bend on October 22, 2026 were $55–$65 (Bend Ride Company), $59–$79 (541 Airport Shuttle), $52–$65 for 1–3 people or $73–$84 for 4–6 (Enviro Shuttle), from $60 (Shuttle Oregon) and about $55 per vehicle plus gratuity and fees (Destination Transportation). These are private rides, so the price covers your whole party.
Can I get Uber or Lyft at Redmond Airport?
Yes. Both are authorized at RDM, with pickup at the curb north of the terminal. Late at night and on holiday weekends there may be few drivers, so pre-book a shuttle if a missed ride would be a problem. Uber also lets you reserve a ride ahead at a locked-in price.
Are rental cars available inside RDM?
Yes. Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National have counters inside baggage claim. You pick up and drop off cars in the lot north of the terminal on Jesse Butler Circle.
Is there public transportation from RDM to Bend?
Yes, on weekdays. Cascades East Transit Route A stops at the airport and runs to the Redmond Transit Center, where Route 24 continues to Hawthorne Station in Bend. Each ride is $2 (or $6 for a day pass). Route A runs Monday–Friday, with the last airport stop at 7:06 p.m. CET’s fare table also lists a $15 Bend–Redmond Airport fare, but we found no current direct airport route on its site, so call 541-385-8680 before counting on it.
Where do I wait to pick someone up at RDM?
Use the free Cell Phone Waiting Area on SE Salmon Drive (follow the signs on SE Airport Way). The terminal curb is for active loading only, and waiting there can bring a $150 citation. The main lot across from the terminal is free for the first 30 minutes, then $2 an hour.
Should I reserve an airport shuttle?
For a late arrival, a large group, lots of gear, a holiday weekend, or any trip where a missed ride would be a real problem: yes. For a daytime arrival with two people and light bags, rideshare is usually enough.
Can I get from Redmond Airport to Mt. Bachelor?
Not directly by public transit. Get to Bend first, then ride CET’s winter Mt. Bachelor bus from Hawthorne Station or the Mt. Bachelor Park & Ride on Columbia Street, or book a private van such as Shuttle Oregon, which runs Mt. Bachelor day trips. Driving, it is about 22 miles past Bend on the Cascade Lakes Highway.
Do I need chains or snow tires to drive from RDM to Bend?
Usually not on US-97 between Redmond and Bend, but storms do bring snow and ice. Check TripCheck.com before you leave the airport. Oregon allows studded tires November 1 through March 31, and traction tires can be used in place of chains on passenger vehicles when chains are required. Mt. Bachelor and the mountain passes are a different story, so carry chains for those.
How early should I leave Bend for a flight out of RDM?
Add about 30 minutes of driving plus a buffer to the time you want to be at the airport. Add more in winter, early mornings and holiday weekends. The planner on this page does the math for you.
Researched by All Things Bend. Every provider and price checked on its own site or on flyrdm.com on October 22, 2026. Not included: anyone we couldn’t verify on a current site or RDM’s list.
